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COMMANDERY OF M DISTRICT OF COLUMBIi 



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WAR PAPER 64. 



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dOMMAWDEKV OF THE DI^TI(ICT DF COLUpA. 



WAR PAPE RS. 

54 

"Iperserial I^ecoUectioRS of CLKallanooga and "Vicinity. 

PREPARED BY COMPANION 

First Lieutenant 

JEFFERSON H. JENINGS, 

U. S. Volunteers, 

AND 

READ AT THE STATED MEETING OF MAY 4, 1 9C4. 



V.-O. b.U.L'US. 



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ktmx^l §txolUx\'m\^ of tflutttanooga 
and ilmuitj(» 



The battle f)l" Chickaniauga was fought on September 19 and 
20, 1863. The Union Army (Army of the Cumberland) was 
commanded by Gen. W. vS. Rosecrans, and the Confederate 
forces, Army of Tennessee, Longstreet Corps, Army of Virginia, 
and other troops, were commanded by Gen. Braxton Bragg. 
During the night of vSeptember 20, and on September 21. the 
Army of the Cumberland fell back on Chattanooga quietly, 
leisurely, without demoralization, to form a new line and con- 
tinue the battle for the possession of Chattanooga, for which 
the battle of Chickaniauga had been fought, and which we held 
until the war closed. The Army of the Cumberland was 
never defeated during the war. 

I had the honor at that time to be a first heutenant of the 1 jlh 
Kentucky \'olunteer Infantry of General Sam Beatty's brigade, 
which was composed of the 79th and 86th Indiana, the 9th and 
17th Kentucky, and the 13th, 19th, and 59th Ohio, 26th Penn- 
sylvania, and Bridges Illinois batteries — all veteran organiza- 
tions with splendid records; the 3d brigade of Wood's Division, 
4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland. 

It was about September 25th before the enemy appeared in 
much force on Missionary Ridge or in Chattanooga Valley. 
Spades were trumps, and in a few days we were surrounded by 
strong breastworks around the town, and I believe we could have 
repulsed any attack. The enemy, however, seemed to have no 
desire to attack us. relying on the slower but surer way of starv- 
ing us out, and during the siege many a meal was made by tight- 



ening the waist belt. Guards were placed over the mules while 
they were fed, and invariably the guard would invite himself to 
dine with his long-eared friend. A beef's liead would sell for 
$1.50, hardtack 23 cents apiece, and I have seen men fight like 
dogs over a dirty cracker that had dropped out of a wagon. In 
fact, there was much more suffering from scanty rations than 
was ever complained about. 

Bv mutual consent firing at each other on the picket line was 
prohibited, and at one time dozens of soldiers from both sides 
were on the railroad fill between the picket lines, trading news- 
papers, tobacco, etc., while at the same time both forces were 
firing artillery over their heads. Shortly after the siege began I 
was sent in charge of some 300 axmen for the ])urpose of chop- 
ping down the timber in our front, at that time quite heavv. 
Commencing at our picket line, we worked toward the camp. 
It was a beautiful moonlight night. There was a little field in 
our front, and I stepped out in the held cnjoving the moonlight. 
Suddenly a voice remarked from the other side of the field : "Get 
out of there, Yank." I asked: "Whom have I the honor of 
addressing?" "Lieutenant Brown, — th Georgia. You need not 
take any time talking; get out of the field or I will fire you out 
damned quick." 1 took his hint and retired to the shade. 
There was a little frame shanty in the middle of the field ; one of 
our pickets went over to it and commenced knocking (jff a 
board with his gun. "Leave that board alone, Yank," came a 
voice from across the field. C)ur picket stopped long enough 
to request the rebel to go to a warmer place than Chattanooga, 
and also proceeded to give him genealogical information 
especially relative to the female side of his family. The reply to 
this was a rifle shot, and the rebel lieutenant ordered a charge, 
and here they came across the field, veiling and firing. 1 had 
a lively time for a few minutes getting nn- men back. All we 



5 



luul to t^.^'lil with wt-re axes, and while straighteniiij^ out the 
picket line the long roll sounded. Cien. vSam Beattv sent down a 
regiment to reinforce us. The enemy returned back over the 
field and quiet reigned. 1 learned afterward that the lieutenant 
who interviewed me was loaded with bad whiskey and started 
ii: with the intention of capturing Chattanooga. 

The timber was finally cut down within our lines, and with 
the reckless prodigality of soldiers it was soon all gone, and the 
boys proceeded to dig up the stumps for fire wood to cook our 
scanty rations; then the rebels helped us out. There was a 
little island in the Tennessee river just north of our east line of 
. w^orks and just below it was our pontoon bridge, our onlv means 
of communication w4th our supplies. Almost everv night the 
Confederates would send down heavy rafts of logs for the purpose 
of destroying our pontoon bridge ; we had several men in skiffs 
who would meet the rafts and secure them to the island, fur- 
nishing the greater portion of our fuel during the latter part of 
the siege. 

The great question that confronted us was whether we could 
secure enough rations to support the army. From Chattanooga 
to our base of supplies at Stevenson, Alabama, was about 40 
miles by the river road. Crossing the pontoon at Chatta- 
nooga and passing back of Moccasin Point, about seven miles 
out, the road approached the eastern bank of the river. From 
Lookout Mountain the river takes an abrupt turn to the north, 
cutting through the mountains, \\'aldren's Ridge on the east 
and Raccoon Mountain on the west, each about 2,200 feet high. 
The road for about three miles was along the river, with precipi- 
tous clifTs on both sides of the river. The road was onlv wide 
enough for two wagons to pass, and elevated on an average 
about 30 feet above the river's edge. \\'hat we desired was 
something to eat, and to this the rebels objected, and to carrv 



out their designs they had Raccoon Mountain swarming with 
Confederate sharpshooters. They would wait until our wagon . 
train was in the center of the road along the cliff, shoot down 
the mules at the head and rear of the train, and then amuse 
themselves bv shooting at everything in sight. About October 
15th General Beatty ordered me with 75 picked men to take a 
wagon train to Stevenson, Alabama. Fortunately, when we 
reached the river road a section of our artillery and a detach- 
ment of our sharpshooters had been entertaining the Confeder- 
ates on Raccoon Mountain all the morning, which enabled us to 
pass through the gap without molestation. As my train passed 
out of danger I started after it. Just then a couple of bullets 
struck the rock near me ; the only shots fired at us. On the 
return to Chattanooga the weather was stormv, the roads were 
horrible, and no other train passed over the river road after 
mine; we were obliged to go up the Sequatchie Valley via Jasper. 
It was the second day after leaving Stevenson before we reached 
the foot of Waldren's Ridge. There was nothing but a mere 
trail up the mountain. The road was improved by placing logs 
against the projecting ledges, the mess pork barrels had the brine 
emptied out and wagons lightened every possible way. vSix- 
teen mules were hitched to each wagon as it was taken up the 
mountain, a stalwart soldier with a big black-snake whip to 
each mule, and as many men as could catch hold of the 
wheels and wagon pushing and lifting thereon. The unregener- 
ate mule paid penance for all his sins that dav and worked as 
mules never worked before. Bv night we had the train all on 
the mountain top. and to-day I look back to the ascent of the 
wagon train up Waldren's Ridge as one of the most potent of my 
army experiences. The distance from Stevenson, Alabama, to 
Chattanooga via Jasper was about 75 miles. After my return to 
Chattanooga, (icn. vSam Beatty ordered ine with the same 



7 



guard to continue in cluiri^c of the train most of the time during 
the siege. 

After the "cracker Hue" was opened I made frequent trips 
to Kelly's via Brown's Ferrv. The Confederates on Lookout 
Mountain, whenever a train would cross the pontoon bridge at 
Brown's Ferry and crossing Wanhatchie Vallev, would shell us 
furiously, but never injured anyone as far as I know, but it was 
interesting to see the shells bursting far up in the air, or bursting 
just as they struck the river. On one trip I noticed a number of 
general officers approaching a narrow cut in the road. I drew the 
men up on the top of the bank and had my wagons take the side 
of the road. The party paused in the road a moment immedi- 
ately in my front. Grant, Thomas, vSherman and several corps 
commanders were in the party. Just as4:hev slacked up General 
Grant asked General Sherman, "Can a movement of troops 
back of the ridge (pointing to one to the right) on the north side 
of the river be seen from either Missionary Ridge or Lookout 
Mountain!^". To which vSherman replied it could not. On return 
to camp, talking to the of^cers, I pointed to Missionary Ridge 
and said: "Gentlemen, we will have the pleasure of going up 
there in the near future." Then I related the conversation 
between Grant and Sherman. 

A day or two afterward I passed the most miserable day of my 
life. I was on picket ; the ground was a dead level, and all day 
and night long the rain poured in torrents ; the shallowest place 
was over the shoe-top in depth. In a short time both shoes 
felt as if they were full of scalding water. Just before dark 
I sent a note to General Beatty requesting twenty canteens of 
whiskey, and, to mv great satisfaction, the men I sent returned 
with the canteens filled, (reneral Beatty would always take 
good care of his men, and I believe the whiskey saved several 
lives. 



About I P. M., November 23, 1S67,, Wood's Division was 
ordered out of our works. vSam Beally's Brigade forming on 
the slope that extended nearly to the rebel pieket lines a little to 
the north and in front of I'ort Wood, with Orchard Knob and 
the rebel rifle pits about three-fourths of a mile to the southeast 
of us. Regiment after regiment, brigade after brigade, formed 
on the grassv slope, without hurry or excitement, but apparently 
as though forming for a grand review. Our picket line was 
doubled in number and a regiment sent to strengthen the 
reserves. The enemy seemed to be wondering at our manceu- 
vres, and as everv man on the plain outside of our works could 
be seen bv all on both sides they duplicated every move we 
made. It was like a gigantic game of chess, our skirmish line 
representing the pawns. About 1.40 P. M. the skirmish line 
was ordered forward, with trailed arms and without firing a shot 
they advanced on the enemy. A big rebel near a little shanty 
fired on our line and hastily retreated behind the shanty, and 
thus the first shot in the battles around Chattanooga was fired. 
At this time we were ordered to double quick for Orchard Knob, 
carrving it with a rush, and at 2.30 had full possession of the 
same and connecting rifle pits to the south. So quick and unex- 
pected was our charge that we captured several unopened boxes 
of new Enfield rifles with the name of the blockade runner 
thereon, which evidently had been sent to the Knob to be 
issued to the troops stationed there. 

The 17th Kentucky, as usual, started in as a reserve to the 
other six regiments of Sam Beatty's Brigade. \\'e remained 
on the Knob, doing nothing until after dark, when the enemy 
made an attack in force on our lines north of Orchard Knob. 
Until about 12 M. we were run up and down the line or wher- 
ever the firing appeared the heaviest, but about 12 M. every- 
thing quieted down and we returned to the Knob. The morn- 



ing of the 24th of X..v.nibcT was bright and clear, and Sam 
Brattv's Brigade had nothing to do except await developments. 
The enemv had established and thrown light intrenchments 
about 200 yards in front of their heav^• hne of works, near the 
base of Missionary Ridge. 

During the night of the 24th Sherman's armv had crossed the 
Tennessee river, attackmg the enemv near the north end of 
Missionarv Ridge. The battle al this point continued ah day, 
on November 25th, without any particular advantage on either 
side twoof Sherman's army brigades being badlv repulsed. We 
all supposed that the Confederate troops were being massed to 
crush Sherman's force, all the troops from Lookout Mountain 
and Chattanooga VaUev having been transferred to Missionarv 
Ridge during the night of the 24th. Sam Beattv's Brigade 
stiU continued to occupv Orchard Knob. The enemv shelled 
us all dav. It seemed to amuse them and did not hurt us. Our 
corps commander. Gen. Gordon Granger, was with us on the 
Knob • he secured a 6-pound gun somewhere and, assisted by one 
soldier for an hour or more, made "pot shots" at the enemv on 
the summit and the base of the Ridge. The execution he did 
probablv was as barren of results as was that of the rebels. 
About \ ,0 P. M. 1 was talking to our Colonel (Stout), when 
the following order was delivered to him verballv: "Colonel, 
when six guns are hred from the batterv on Orchard Knob, 
advance vour regiment, charge, capture and hold the lower line 
of works'to make a diversion in Sherman's favor." ^^hthln ten 
minutes afterward the six guns were fired by the 26th Pennsvh 
vania Batterv of Sam Beatty's brigade. The brigade at once 
started on quick time, going a little north of east from the Knob. 
The skirmish line and light works in the valley and their defen- 
ders did not cause a second's delay. The prisoners were dis- 
armed and ordered into Chattanooga, and, going m with a rush 



lO 



and a yell, in a few niinules we were in full possession of the 
heavy works at the base of Missionary Ridge. There was a 
regiment about half way between us and Chattanooga, and it 
was amusing to see squads of the same charging on the poor 
surprised disarmed Confederates we had sent to the rear and 
marching them to the regiment as prisoners. One of the claims of 
this regiment is that it captured 600 prisoners. Under the 
circumstances a most heroic deed ! After we had captured the 
lower line of works the brigade sheltered itself as well as it could 
from the fire on the summit of the Ridge by keeping close to 
the outside of the captured breastworks. The 17th Ken- 
tucky, still a reserve regiment for the brigade, occupied the 
open ground about lO'^ feet to the rear. The enemy had all 
their batteries posted on the summit of the ridge. From the 
position of the lytli Kentucky I could see about all of our line 
on either side of us for over a mile. 

In our immediate front was the highest and steepest portion 
of Missionary Ridge (about 500 feet, at an angle of 45 degrees), 
strongly fortified on the summit, and with 42 pieces of artillery 
in position. The Ridge had been denuded of trees and had a 
rough, broken surface, seamed by gullies and ravines, an appar- 
ently impregnable position. My attention was drawn to a 
movement in the 9th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry immediately 
to our right and front. Just then a little corporal of that regi- 
ment (I never knew his name) rose and shouted, "By God, boys, 
let's go up," and, suiting the action to the word, sprang over the 
lower line of breastworks, the whole regiment after him and 
the whole brigade following at once. A ravine extended up the 
Ridge near the right of Sam Beatty's brigade, and all started for 
it. The 79th Indiana, being nearest, started up in the lead and 
all the regiments in the brigade kept about the same relative 
position as the\' did when they entered the ravine. In fact, the 



^ 



II 



whole brigade was in a bunch with the 17th Kenluckx' still as a 
reserve regiment. The ravine was steep and roekv; the rebels 
firing down it o\-ershot us as a rule, and the artillery could hardly 
reach down to us. We pushed ahead until nearly half way up, 
when, by common consent apparently, we all sat or lay down in 
the ravine, and just then, to our great surprise, the enemv ceased 
firing. What the others thought while resting I do not know, 
but my thoughts were: We cannot remain here, they will roll 
stones down on us soon. We cannot go ahead without rein- 
forcements ; while we can carrv the works we will be fianked and 
captured and we can't retreat. It is decidedly a serious situa- 
tion for us. 

In Fort Wood we had a 32-p(^und 4-gtm battery, and on 
the morning of November 25th vSergeant "Jimmie" Brown, in 
charge of one of the guns, fired at the summit of Missionary 
Ridge, two miles distant, and with a single shot fortunatelv 
dismounted a 12-pound Napoleon gun and blew up a caisson. 

That little sergeant is now Companion J. Edwin Brown, of 
this Commandery. 

When .Sam Beattv's brigade started up the ravine the four 
,^2 -pound guns in Fort Wood commenced firing over our heads. 
The firing was magnificent. Fvach gun seemed to send an end- 
less procession of shells to the summit of the Ridge. About the 
same time the enemv quit tiring the ,^2 -pound guns also ceased, 
as there was great danger they would strike us. While we could 
excuse the enemy from firing, but when our shells quit passing 
over our heads, I never felt so lonesome in my life. 

lust then a big bugler of Turchin's brigade at the base of the 
Ridge sounded the charge, and, as far as I could see, on either 
side the regiments and brigades were starting up the steep 
acclivity. At once we started up the Ridge, and as we neared 
the summit our brigade in front would deploy to the right and 



12 



left of the ravine outside of the enemy's breastworks, charging 
and carrying them with a rush. Although having to go some 
distance farther east than the rest of the Hne, we were inside of 
the enemy's works almost as soon as the other regiments of the 
brigade. After our brief rest, and we had started up, the rebels 
commenced firing again, and a Napoleon gun in the Confederate 
battery on our left was particularly energetic and could get 
clear down to us. As our boys moved to the left outside of the 
ravine I noticed a rebel officer waving a Confederate battle flag 
in the battery. I had an old French navy revolver and 1 
wanted to get him so badly that I rested it on one hand as I 
aimed at him. just then the Napoleon gun went off, covering 
me with dust and clay, and the officer disappeared. Rushing 
on over the Confederate works, I found one rebel evidently 
striking for his native land. I picked up a musket and in the 
courteous manner usual on such occasions requested him to 
come back to me. He was the sorriest looking mortal I ever 
saw. He remarked: "I am glad you Yankees have got me." 
"Well," I remarked, "you may be, but you don't look it. 
Vou seem to have a happy faculty of concealing your emo- 
tions that would prove a fortune to you in some other avoca 
tion. Who was that rebel officer waving the battle flag?" 
"That, sir, was General Hardee." 

As soon as we captured the summit of the Ridge the ijtli 
Kentucky was detailed to handle the Confederate captured 
artillery, while the rest of the brigade pursued the enemy down 
the east side of the Ridge. Two long drawn lines of rebel rein- 
forcements were coming from the east, but a few well-directed 
shots from our balter\' sent them disorganized and Ihing. We 
had just succeeded in shelling all of the enemy within range when 
General Grant appeared entirely alone, his hores white with 
foam. He rode up, and hailing, he asked, "What regiment is 



13 



this-" "The 17th Kentucky, sir." Removins; his hat, he sriid, 
"vSoldiers, I return ^on my sincere thanks; you liave not only 
done what I asked you to do, but a great deal more." Replacing 
his hat, and removing it again, he continued, "Again allow me 
to retin-n you my most sincere thanks," and galloped awav. 

The Army of the Cumberland, in a line extending two and one- 
half miles, composed of eleven brigades and four batteries, were 
confronted by eleven and one-half brigades and sixteen batteries. 
In one hour the Army of the Cumberland charged over a plain 
about (ine mile; it charged up a steep moimtain ridge abt)ut 500 
feet high, captured three lines of breastworks, thirtv-two pieces 
of artillery, and about 2,000 prisoners. 1 belie\'ed at that time 
that the 79th Indiana of Gen. Sam Beatty's brigade was the 
first regiment on the summit of Missionarv Ridge, and believe 
so now. It is generally stated that the Ridge was carried simul- 
taneously at six different points. This is undoubtedlv so, but 
Sam Beatty's brigade was the first United States troops on 
the summit of the Ridge and before any other point was carried. 
I would briefl\' refer to an extract from the official report of 
Major-General Bate, commanding the forces in our front, Vol. 
;, r, page 741, Rebellion Records — Report of Gen. Wm. B. Bate, 
C. S. A., commanding Breckenridge's Division (November 25, 
Missionary Ridge) : 

* * * "During this charge my attention was called to 
some scattered troops a few hundred yards to mv right making 
their w^ay apparently without resistance to the top of the hill. 
Believing them to be Confederates falling back from the trenches, 
I forbade mv right firing upon them, and sent a staff ofhcer to 
ascertain. Upon receiving the answer, I directed upon them a 
right oblique fire from infantry and artillery from the right of 
Tyler's command. It drove him to his left, but did not check 
his ascent of the Ridge. In a few minutes I saw a flag waving 



H 



at a point in the line of General Anderson's Division beyond the 
depression in the Ridge where a section of artillery of Dent's 
battery had been firing and was then located. I thought it a 
Confederate flag, but on a nearer approach and a more minute 
inspection I soon delected the United .States colors. 

" It was but a few moments until the second and third flags 
were on the Ridge near the same sjjot and the enemy in such 
numbers as to drive away the command under Major Weaver. 
The enemv turned our guns upon us and oyjened a fire of mus- 
ketry on our right and rear. This advantage forced my right 
to fall back." * * * 

While the incidents of the Civil War are as vivid as if they had 
occurred vesterdav, vet over forty years have passed since we 
climbed the rocky sides of Missionary Ridge. The whistle of 
bullets and shriek of shells, the agonizing groans of the wounded, 
are replaced by peace and quietude. We have all of us crossed 
over the grand divide and with rapid steps are passing down 
the slope to the great ocean of eternity. Our greatest pleasure 
is to think of the days of our youth, and it is a pride to say I 
was a soldier in the Army of the Union, and, no matter how 
humble was mv military position, I was one of the many that 
helped to preserve the Union. 



